All Law, Fire and Rescue agencies in Boulder County use a conventional VHF radio system consisting of multiple
primary and backup transmitter sites, receiver sites and many voting receiver sites. These are linked by microwave,
frame relay and T1 telephone lines. BCSO Communications utilizes a Printrak Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system
version 6.1, a Motorola Centracomm II console radio system and Plant telephone equipment with custom call routing.
Boulder County also uses the M/A-COM, Inc’s NetworkFirst solution to interconnect its existing conventional VHF
radio communications system to both the M/A-COM communications system used by the Denver Police Department and to
the State of Colorado’s Motorola P25 DTR system for interoperability based on routine and emergency needs. The
solution uses an IP, packet-switched, infrastructure allowing nearly unlimited scalability - from connecting two
nearby agencies together to connecting multiple agencies across an entire state, and even beyond. This capability
makes NetworkFirst a very powerful tool in meeting requirements for homeland security and allows law and fire
agencies in Boulder County to coordinate with users of other communications networks to enhance the safety and
security of the citizens of Boulder County.
Boulder County also sought and was awarded Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) grant money to install and
implement two new Motorola State P25 DTR sites. These two sites should be online by the end of 2006.
